RECORD REVIEWS

PUCCINI: “La Fanciulla del West.” Mara Zampieri, Placido Domingo, Juan Pons, others; forces of Teatro alla Scala, conducted by Lorin Maazel. Sony Classical S2K 47189. Recorded from live performances, these discs are an oddity. The dynamic level is low, requiring volume adjustments. Two of the three leading roles are weakly cast. Zampieri is a small-scaled Minnie whose slightly acidic top gives some excitement to her Cs and Bs, but otherwise the voice is not up to the cruel demands of the part. Similarly, Pons’ Jack Rance is lacking in stature, and his sound wobbles under pressure. Ramerrez might be Domingo’s finest role: It does not lie too high, and he provides it with a golden sheen, as well as all the power desired. For whatever reason, applause is kept in after his two set pieces, jarringly. The comprimario parts are taken well, with an especially rich-voiced Marco Chingari as Jake Wallace. Maazel certainly leaves nothing to chance--the big climaxes are impressive enough, but when he gets hold of a lyric passage that engages his sympathy, he can all but stop the drama in its tracks as he caresses it. Sumptuous packaging from Sony.